1080p plasma screens

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We see HD Ready logos plastered around every electrical retailer. Most people will probably assume one size fits all, and there is little differnce between all the HD Ready TV specification. This assumption would be wrong, there are three different HD resolution standards; 720p, 1080i and 1080p.

The numbers 720 and 1080 signify the amount of lines of resolution of a television can display. The more lines the higher the resolution supported. The 'i' stands for "interlaced", and the 'p' stands for "progressive". So what's the difference between the two?

The progressive scan is the superior of the two, it builds an image up in one process, whereas an interlaced scan builds an image up in two processes. This can produce a flicker effect, and that's why progressive scan televisions are usually described as 'flicker free'.

The downside is that Sky HD does not yet support a 1080p signal, the maximum signal it can send currently is 1080i. This means you cannot as of yet get the most out of your 1080p plasma screen whilst watching a Sky broadcast. But expect this to change in the upcoming years. Additionally, if you buy yourself a Blu Ray or HD DVD machine they are capable of supporting a 1080p signal.